What’s the Skinny on Post-Weight Loss Surgery?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third (36.5%) of U.S. adults are considered to be obese, and for a great many of those men and women long-term weight loss is an extremely important goal. Unfortunately, even after all of the hard work and perseverance required to achieve that goal, many find that their journey is not yet over. Although reaching a healthy weight does undoubtedly help them to feel better and to avoid many potentially dangerous health issues, years of carrying excess fat has often left their skin stretched and sagging in loose folds. This is where plastic surgery, and specifically post-weight loss procedures, can help. By removing this excess skin from key areas, the board certified plastic surgeons at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. can help you complete the final stages of your weight loss journey and help you finally get the body you have always wanted.
Commonly known as post-bariatric surgery because it was originally conceived to help patients who had lost a great deal of weight through surgical weight loss procedures, a body lift generally includes some form of tummy tuck to shape the contours of the torso and midsection. This can help with the all too common “pooch” around the abdomen that never seems to go away, but the procedure usually does not stop there. Post-weight loss surgery also frequently incorporates targeted procedures called arm lifts and thigh lifts that are specifically designed to remove and tighten excess, sagging skin in those areas as well.
Many women also find that they have similar concerns after going through a pregnancy. The significant changes that occur in the body while carrying and giving birth to a child can leave the skin stretched and the muscles distorted. In these cases a specialized form of post-weight loss surgery called a mommy makeover can help restore a woman’s body to its pre-pregnancy shape. Since every woman is unique, this combination of procedures can be specifically customized to accommodate each individual woman’s needs. While it almost always includes a tummy tuck, just like traditional post-weight loss surgery, it also usually incorporates a breast lift or breast reduction to address the changes in the breasts that breast feeding can cause. Because mommy makeover procedures are performed during the same surgical session, overall healing and recovery time can be significantly reduced.
Every individual’s body is different and post-weight loss surgery may not be the right choice for everyone, however it represents only a small portion of all the things that plastic surgery body contouring procedures can do. If you are interested in learning more about any of the cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures that we perform at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, or in speaking with one of our board certified plastic surgeons about your options, please contact us in Alpharetta, or at one of our other Atlanta area offices located in Sandy Springs (Northside), Newnan, or Cumming, to schedule a full plastic surgery consultation. Don’t forget to check out our many available financing options and to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.
